The Niche

Catching Up.

So, Dhruv never turned up.

After the basketball match I parted with my friends because I was getting bored. My plan was simple; to fake a headache and come home and dip my nose into some romantic novel.

I dragged myself to my house and when I reached it I couldn't be any happier.

After I enter the house the first thing that I did was to run to the kitchen to eat something. My stomach was sounding like a whale and Shreya even noticed it and instead of giving me food she smirked.

Bitch!

After I was fueled I went to my room upstairs and started reading 'Pride and Prejudice'. Yes I know it is an oldie but what can I say I love it. All of it.

I remember my mother handed me this book when I was thirteen and since then it is my favorite, after reading and re-reading and always crying on the third last page the book was wore off. My mom said she will buy me a new one but I can't.

This book was sentimental in many ways.

Time flies when one reads a book.

I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't notice when my mother entered my room:

"Kim, since how long have you been reading that book?"

"Kim, why are you not studying?"

"Kim, why are you not listening to me?"

"Kim"

"Yes mom" I finally replied looking up from my book.

"There is a party tonight get ready for that, but before that finish your school work and studies, is that clear?"

"Yes mom" and that is how our conversation ended and she went out of the room, not closing the door behind her.

I infuriated got up from my reading spot and shut the door with a bang and sat down again.

Sometimes I get so irritated with my family that I feel like leaving them. Problem with my family is that, both of my parents give my studies more importance than me.

I understand them.

Both work really hard for the family, the jobs that they do is not an easy one. Every day is a new challenge and they want best for us.

Basically, my paternal family is from a small town, smaller background and smallest mind-set.

My father's family is very conventional and total orthodox. That's why when my mother married my father; a job for her was a complete no-no. And when she tried to bring the new modern ways of thinking in the family she was laughed at.

My father had no say in the family as he was the youngest. He had an amazing job but all money was spent on keeping the family happy and we got nothing.

After my sister, when I was born, that was the end of it. People started taunting my mother for having two daughters and no son and pushed her to conceive, knowing that she can't they boycotted her and the taunting and making fun continued.

Nobody liked me because I was the second daughter.

I remember my mother use to sleep with me and console me when I was feeling low from all the blows I took. She uses to say "Everything will change, there is a better life waiting for us".

The better life came indeed. My father quit his job and started a new business in the big city: Delhi.

We came here and settled and my mother made it her mission that her two daughters will get the best of everything. They will prove themselves that they can achieve whatever they want to.